Finnish manufacturer of power systems for the marine industry, Wärtsilä, has signed new licence agreements with seven of its long-term Chinese partners.

Seven contract renewals

CSSC (China State Shipbuilding Corporation), which has been a Wärtsilä licensee since 1978, and four of its engine companies have signed new agreements giving them licence to manufacture, sell, and service Wärtsilä low-speed engines for a further ten years. The four companies are HHM (Hudong Heavy Machinery Co Ltd), CMD (CSSC-MES Diesel Co Ltd), CME (Zhenjiang CME Co Ltd) and GMD (CSSC Guangzhou Marine Diesel Engine Co Ltd).

Under the terms of the newly signed agreement, the seven companies are licensed to manufacture and sell the full range of Wärtsilä RTA, RT-flex, and Generation X low-speed marine diesel engines within their specified territories.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr Qin Wenquan, Chairman of the Board of Hudong Heavy Machinery Co Ltd and chairman of the board of CSSC-MES Diesel Co Ltd, said: "The application of new technologies has made the Wärtsilä two-stroke engine extremely competitive in terms of fuel consumption, exhaust emissions, and performance.

“As regards mutual co-operation, Wärtsilä continuously strengthens its communication with licensees, and provides strong support in both technology and marketing aspects.”

Mr Wu Shu, President of Dalian Marine Diesel Co Ltd, representing CSIC, made particular mention of the support that Wärtsilä has given in the successful manufacture of the RT-series of engines, and the newly developed Wärtsilä X72 engine for which Dalian Marine Diesel has already won orders.

The agreements were signed during a ceremony held on 3 December 2012 in Shanghai and cover the period from 2013 to 2022.